Mt. Kanlaon spews ash after latest blast

BACOLOD CITY — Mt. Kanlaon emitted ash on Sunday morning, a day after a moderately explosive eruption sent an ash plume up to 6 kilometers above its summit and brought light ashfall and a strong sulfur odor to several areas in Negros Occidental, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The ash emission occurred at 5:15 a.m., with a grayish plume rising 600 meters above the summit crater before drifting generally west, Phivolcs said in an advisory.

According to Phivolcs, the emission was recorded by its monitoring cameras at the Mansalanao, Upper Pantao and Canlaon City observation stations.

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READ: Mt. Kanlaon erupts, sends ash plume above summit

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Sulfur fumes

The latest ash emission followed the volcano’s Saturday eruption at 12:46 p.m., which sent an ash plume up to 6 km above the summit and prompted reports of ashfall and sulfur fumes in parts of Negros Occidental.

In Don Salvador Benedicto town, ashfall and sulfur fumes were reported in the town proper and the villages of Igmayaan, Bunga, Bacong, Kumaliskis, Bago and Pandanon.

Residents of Sitio (subvillage) Guintubdan in La Carlota City reported light ashfall and a strong sulfur odor, while sulfur fumes were also detected in the upper portions of Barangay Cod-cod in San Carlos City.

Phivolcs’ 24-hour monitoring recorded one moderately explosive eruption, one ash emission lasting two hours and 41 minutes, and 10 volcanic earthquakes.

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Sulfur dioxide emissions reached 5,132 tons on Saturday, more than double the 2,356 tons recorded on Friday.

Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, indicating an elevated state of volcanic unrest.

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Phivolcs continues to prohibit entry into the volcano’s 4-km permanent danger zone and aircraft flights close to the volcano because of the risk of sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions and other volcanic hazards.

Authorities have advised residents in affected areas to wear face masks or use damp cloths to minimize exposure to fine ash and sulfur fumes. Local disaster risk reduction and management offices are also monitoring conditions in nearby communities. INQ